Abstract

Background

The literature on social dilemmas and punishment focuses on the behaviour of the punisher.
However, to fully explain the effect of punishment on cooperation, it is important
to understand the psychological mechanisms influencing the behaviour of those who
expect to be punished. This paper examines whether the expectation of punishment,
rather than the implementation of punishment is sufficient to prevent individuals
from free riding. Individual differences in the punishment sensitivity have been linked
to both threat responses (flight, fight, fear system, or the FFFS) and to the response
to the uncertainty of punishment (BIS-anxiety).The paper, therefore, examines if individual
differences in BIS-anxiety and FFFS can explain some of the variability in free riding
in the face of implemented and non-implemented punishment.

Methods

Participants took part in a series of one-shot Public Goods Games (PGGs) facing two
punishment conditions (implemented and non-implemented) and two standard non-punishment
PGGs. The punishment was implemented as a centralized authority punishment (i.e.,
if one participant contributed less than their group members, they were automatically
fined). Individual contribution levels and presence/absence of zero contributions
indexed free riding. Individual differences in behavioural inhibition were assessed.

Results

Individuals contributed more under the threat of punishment (both implemented and
non-implemented). However, individuals contributed less when the punishment was not implemented compared to when it was. Those scoring high in BIS-anxiety contributed
more when the punishment expectations were not implemented. This effect was not observed
for FFFS.

Conclusion

Supporting previous research, punishment had a powerful effect in increasing contribution
levels in the PGGs. However, when expected punishment was not implemented, individual
differences in punishment sensitivity, specifically in BIS-anxiety, were related to
fewer contributions (increased free riding) as compared to the situation when punishment
was not implemented. This has implications for our understanding of why some people
cannot resist the temptation to free ride, even when facing possible punishment for
their actions. Our findings suggest that the diminished functioning of mechanisms,
associated with trait behavioural inhibition, can partly explain such behaviours.